DALLAS—In spite of staff cutbacks, the Baptist General Convention of Texas continues to offer counseling and psychological services to ministers and their families through a network of counselors across the state.
While the BGCT has eliminated its psychological services staff, it has asked Dan McGee, who once led the convention’s counseling efforts, to lead the work to help ministers and their families find respected counselors who can help.
McGee is further strengthening the network of counselors across the state he helped establish while working with the BGCT. Each person in the network has been thoroughly researched and comes with strong recommendations.
“Pursuing ministry as a vocation is a spiritually, physically and emotionally difficult pathway to walk,” McGee said. “The burnout and dropout rate is high, and for Baptist ministers there is no ecclesiastical safety net. Isolation is what I notice first among those we have worked with over the years. According to one study, 70 percent of ministers do not have someone they consider a close friend. “
In addition to connecting ministers with counselors, McGee continues to provide assistance to ministers who have questions about counseling issues. He also conducts tests to help staff members better understand each other and work together.
The BGCT provides some financial assistance for ministers who receive counseling through this network.
For more information about counseling and psychological services, write McGee at [email protected] or call (800) 388-2005.
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